01/08/09, 03:06:52 UTC

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Cape Town Convention: The Arik Airline example

tribune.com.ng

The domestication of the Cape Town convention in the recent civil aviation bill, signed into civil aviation act by the former National Assembly, has started yielding dividend in the aviation industry.

Since the adoption of the convention under the close monitoring of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority[NCAA],many domestic carriers have started tapping from the gains of the convention, which was adopted by African nations in 2001 to make modern aircraft acquisition easy for African airlines like their counterparts in other parts of the world.


Following the adoption of the convention, coupled with the role of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority[NCAA], the industry in the recent past, have started reaping the gains of the convention as many domestic airlines with the backings of some major banks in Nigeria, like the Zenith and Intercontinental Banks have started bringing in new aircraft into the country. Top on the list of these carriers is the youngest entrant, Arik Air, which has already placed order for 15 new generation aircrafts worth $1.7billion.


Arik before last week, had earlier acquired 15 modern planes plus a leased one with the delivery of another new Boeing 737-700 aircraft last week. The aircraft which was flown into the country from Seatle in the United States made its inaugural flight to Abuja last Tuesday in grand style thus signalling the beginning of good things to come to the industry. Speaking on the occasion, the Director-General of the NCAA, Harold Demuren, while describing the development as historic for the nation's aviation industry, thanked Nigerian banks for making things to happen in the industry now with particular mention of Zenith and Intercontinental Banks.


Demuren, who cited the past when there was controversy over the status of aircraft flying within the country, expressed happiness with the inflow of new generation planes into the country, saying it was a dividend of the Cape Town convention. Corroborating Demuren's position was the special adviser to the president on aviation, Captain Shehu Usman Iyal, who also said the arrival of the plane was good omen for Nigeria. According to Iyal, the Arik Airline order for new planes fell in line with the Umaru Musa Yar'Adua's policy of putting the industry on a sound footing.He, however, called on other domestic airlines to emulate the good gestures in order to make the country be at par with other nations.


The airline's managing director, Mike Tighe, who was full of joy on the occasion further disclosed that the airline apart from the new B737-700 plane, had placed order for an additional four Boeing 787 dreamliner jets, increasing the number from three to seven even as it also announced additional order for one more Boeing 777-300ER bringing the aircraft type ordered for to five. Besides, while Arik has placed order with Boeing for ten Boeing 737-800,an earlier announcement by Bombardier in Canada meant that the airline would take delivery of four new Q-400 high speed turboprop airlines worth $104million between 2008 and 2009.


For the airline to have placed order for seven dreamliners shows its determination to not only capture the local market but also make waves across the globe. The aircraft which has 250 seating capacity and known for its fuel efficiency was recently the subject of a very high profile launch in Seatle where it was presented to the public. However,the new 737-700 which arrived the country last week will fly the Lagos-Abuja route even as it will be used to service the new routes the airline has expanded its operations to namely,Yola,Jos and Maiduguri.


While the airline is gearing up to commence flights into London and the United States,it has concluded plans to begin flights into the West Coast before the end of 2007. Reacting,the airline's managing director said:"Everytime we announce a new development for the airline,it makes us proud that Nigerians will benefit from the investment made and from the service that we will be delivering them both in the air and on the ground.As we watch our domestic operations grow week by week,we also look forward to taking delivery of more aircraft that will help us develop our operations into the West Coast of Africa and across the world."


Apart from its acquisition of many new generation planes,the airline has also concluded plans to establish an academy within its premise at the Lagos airport for the purpose of training aviation personnel to block the on-going shortage of professionals in the industry.
Arik, according to its head of communication,Gbemiga Ogunleye, is an airline that will not only be known locally but has the capability of becoming a leading African airline by year 2011.


With the new generation planes that the airline is acquiring which can compete with any airline in the world,it is certain that it will give the likes of British Airways,Virgin Atlantic,Delta Airline and North American airlnes a good fight on the British and the United States routes. With the manner the airline is growing and with the barrage of new planes being brought into the country, the development will not only shore up the image of the nation's aviation industry but will go a long way in correcting the impression formed by the other countries that Nigeria is a dumping ground for old aircraft.


Presently,Arik has 17 aircraft in its fleet consisting of different new generation planes besides the 15 additional ones it has placed order for. It is hoped that the aviation agencies particularly the NCAA will do everything possible to protect the airline and other serious ones like Bellview,Aero,Virgin Nigeria and Chanchangi against any foreign intimidation especially those ones designated on the foreign routes.

 Printable Version  | published Aug 17, 2007